Indonesia takes delivery of its first aircraft carrier, a retired Italian warship, to boost maritime and disaster response

Indonesia welcomed its first aircraft carrier on Friday, September 18, 2026, when the former Italian warship ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi arrived at a naval base in North Jakarta. The 41-year-old vessel, gifted by Italy in March, will be commissioned as KRI Gajah Mada next week. President Prabowo Subianto plans to use it for disaster response and maritime security. The acquisition has sparked debate over its cost and necessity, with some analysts suggesting the money could be better spent on other defense priorities.